Cork Screw hair bows

Here is a simple out line of how to make those super cute curly hair clips. I always thought they would be harder to make. Now that I know how it has saved us alot of $$. :)

Materials needed:

Ribbon (I have found the thinner the better it works)

doll rods (make sure they are short enough to fit in your oven ;D)

clothes pins

static guard spray

Oven- preheated to 350 degrees

regular sewing thread and needle (coordinating color to ribbon)

hot glue gun

scissors
Alligator clip (or Barret/ pony tale holder whatever you are wanting to attach it to)

Steps:

1- choose your ribbon. (For fuller bows you will need more ribbon. The ones I made here are smaller)

2- wrap ribbon around doll rod securing it at each end with a clothes pin (you could also use a small dot of hot glue but then you will need to cut the tips off before making your bow)

3-when the doll rods have bee wrapped spray a generous coat of static guard onto them covering all sides- make sure you do this outside so you get your whole house stinky and sticky

4- place doll rods on a cookie sheet and place them in the oven (which has been preheated to 350 degrees) 'Cook' for 15 minutes. You can leave longer but shouldn't be longer than 25 minutes.

5- Remove doll rods and allow them to cool off.

6- When cool, carefully unwrap the ribbon.

7- Cut the ribbon into the sizes you want (Average bow would be about 3-4 inches). With the ribbon I had I made 2 small bows.

8- Thread your needle with about 12 inches of thread- doubled over and knot.

9- lay your thread vertically (needle up) place your ribbon strips on top of the thread. If you are using different colors try to make sure they are not on top of each other so you get more even results.

10- take your needle and pull over the top of your ribbon. Push through the the double end to loop around ribbon pull tight. Wrap around your new bundle for extra security. Knot to keep tight. Set the bow aside for a moment

11- Cut about 3 inches of coordinating ribbon to cover alligator clip. Put a line of hot glue down one half and glue to flat edge of the clip. Put small amount of glue on the in side of the clip and double ribbon onto the inside covering the top part of the clip on both sides.

12- attach bow to the clip. For extra stability I sewed and glued my ribbons to the clip. Take the dangling thread and push needle through the middle of the top of the alligator clip. Go back up through the bottom and tie off. Put a small dot of hot glue under the center of the bow to attach more securely.

This is one of the 2 I made from this ribbon. Great for the little ones or for pigtales on the older ones. :)

Once glue is dry and cooled off enjoy it! :) You just made a bow! :)

***You can also attach smaller versions of the same to other bows you make for a special touch. Same process just sew to the bow instead of the clip. :)

Cost: Ribbon- $.75-2 (depending on how much you use) ,

Alligator clip - about $.14 (just over $3 for 25),

doll rod- $1 (and you reuse, and reuse.....)

with hot glue on the top end you have spent about $3 (with lots of materials left over to make more :D)

Finding the bright side of the ribbon :)

A few weeks back when we had all our snow and ice I had a little fall while carrying one of the twins across the yard. I am now complete with 1 of my 3+ weeks on crutches (and still surviving thanks to my wonderful family). Going from a mom that hardly gets to sit during the day (especially in 1 spot) to trying to navigate a tri- level house with 4 small ones running around your injured leg and having to pick a spot and stay there most of the day has been a challenge. I have taken some refuge at the folding table that never seemed to get cleared enough to be put away after the holidays. (Sometimes it does pay off to not get something crossed off you to-do- list.) :D This table is in the kitchen and over the last several weeks had become our catch all spot for school projects and my crafts. Since my kids like to eat alot and its the main floor of the house and it is a place I can sit w/ my leg up and still keep an eye on most things going on it has been a great set up. And if you are going to sit there while you watch the house get messed up and dust collect you might as well have something to ease your mind of all the things you can't physically get done. So thus has begun my adventures in hair bows. :) My girls and nieces are gonna have the most decked out hair in town by the time I get to walk again ;D. We are experimenting with ribbons, flowers, fabric.... if it's w/in arms reach (or I can explain where its at) this getting made into an accessory. (BTW- don't tell my former self what I have become she wouldn't believe you anyway. Something about having 4 super cute daughters will change a lady!) Here are some pictures of the results of my boredom. :D

Fun valentine activities :)

With all this snow we are having to find LOTS of creative outlets for all our little ones extra energy. :) We made a heart mobile last week, we are gathering materials for "crayon Hearts: a cute project with melted crayon shavings in wax paper from Martha Stewart's website. Here is the link, super easy, and helps recycle some of those hundreds of broken crayon pieces. :)

http://www.marthastewart.com/good-things/crayon-hearts?backto=true&backtourl=/photogallery/valentines-day-decor#slide_4

We are also making frames and cards along with little Valentines for their friends. Maybe by the times we are finished the snow will have melted (at least a little). ;)

The twins and I did this one today. Its fun how even at 2 yrs they can want to learn so much. We used a ruler to measure the paper and they helped choose what scissors to use to cut the paper into squares.We made a pattern with the 2 paper designs, and they helped put the stencils in place so I could paint the letters on. their favorite part was helping with the thread and tape to hang it up. :D

Heres to coloring, gluing, painting, and deocrating our way to warmer days!